Auto signaling device



Nov. 16 1926.

P; PETERSON AUTO SIGNALING DEVICE Fi'led August 16, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Pefier' Peier'son Nov. 16, 1926. 1,606,957

r P. PETERSON,,

AUTO SIIGNALING DEVICE Filed August 1 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Pief Refer-son Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

cairn!) STATES PETER PETERSON, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

AUTO SIGNALING DEVICE.

Application filed August 16, 1922. Serial No. 582,195.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electrically operated auto signals of that general character in which, through the medium of push buttons or the like, indication or warning is given to the public to notify them "whether one is going to stop, slow down, or turn to the right or left, or to give any other signal or signals which may be required by different State laws.

The present invention has for its objects among others to provide a simple, cheap, yet efficient and reliable signal device embodying a multiplicity of signaling elements and connections so disposed that upon pressing any one ofthe buttons each instrument will give instantly a white light, followed by a red signal plate with white letters thereon indicative of the contemplated movement of the driver.

Each motor vehicle should be provided with twosignaling mechanisms, one in front and the other in the rear, and on the. left fenders or frame, so that they are visible almost at a right angle.

I provide a good reflector, with a small light which being magnified by the reflector and changing in color, no person can help noticing the signal by day or night. Most every careful driver slows down before 7 making a turn or stopping, and by running slowly the amperes and volts will be low also, and the pressing of a button to give a signal will most always be at low voltage and amperes, and here is where the advantage of employing a reflector and low ampere light comes in. It should also be borne in mind that when pressing a button for signal at low amperage, the light flares up instantly,'but the electro-magnetic force will not reach its full intensity instantly, on account of low voltage and low amperage, and, therefore, there will be a flash of white light before the signal member is raised into operative position when the button is pressed.

It has for a furtherobject to provide sim' ple means for locking each signal in position when desired so as to give the public ample time to observe what the operator is going to do, and also to leave both hands free to manipulate the car.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention, in its preferred form, is

clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved device. I

Figure 2 is a top plan with parts in section.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 9., looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the signal members removed.

Figure 5 is a detail in plan, with portions in section, showing the switch and the locking mechanism.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows. 1

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 8 is a'detail of a modified form of locking device.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings,

1 designates the outer casing with an opening 2 in which is located a plate of transparent material, such as glass, through which the light and the signal may be seen.

Mounted'within the casing and in suitable bearings 5 are the shafts 6, upon which are mounted to revolve or oscillate the frames which carry the transparent signal members; As these frames are all alike, a description of one will Sll'fllCG for all. One of such frames is-shown detached in Figure 4. It comprises .a transverse 11 emher 7, from which extend at theends, the parallel members 8 from which extend the transverse members 9, from which extend the parallel -members 10. Pivot-ally c0nnected, as at 11, with the free ends of the members 10, are the pendent members or links or hangers 12, to the lower ends of which, or in the lower ends of which, are supported the pintles or the like 13 of a transparent sign or signal plate 14, all as clearly shown iii-Figured. In the present instance, I have chosen to show four of these frames and signal plates, but it is evident that the number thereof may be varied as may be desired. These platesl l may have thereon any desired indicia, such, for instance, as Left, as seen in Figure 4,

Right, Turn, and Stop, orsuch other indicating means as may be required by the laws of the place in which the device is used.

The members 8 of the frames are provided at proper points with openings by which the frames may be supported on the shafts 6, so as to freely swing or rock thereon when the push buttons, soon to be described, are operated. As seen in Figure 2, these frames are nested one within another for economy of space. Each of the frames carries, as, for instance, on one of the members 8, a piece of flat steel, as seen in Fig ure 4, for magnetic attraction, for co-operation with electro-magnets soon to be described. These pieces of steel 16 are disposed upon alternate members 8, as seen in Figure 2, so as to better balance the device.

Elements 17 are guides for the signal plates, said guides being arranged at opposite sides of the casin and secured in any suitable manner to the bottom thereof, as, for instance, by fianging the lower ends of the guide plates, as seen at 18 in Figure 3, and through which pass the securing means 19.

Member 20 is an electric light bulb, and 21 a reflector supported within the casing in any suitable manner, as, for instance, between the inner supports 5, as seen in Fig ure 2. 22 is a wire leading to a source of electricity.

Elements 23 are electro-magnets, in the presentinstance four in number, one for each signal-carrying arm, as seen in Figure 2. As seen in Figure 3, these electro-magnets are set at an angle to the perpendicular so as to better co-operate with the signal carrying frames, and these magnets are secured to a non-conductor and nonmagnetic substance 24, as by bolts or the like 25, as seen in Figure 3, all of the parts being mounted on the member 24 so as to be inserted into the casing, or removed therefrom as a unit. In Figure 3 I have shown a plate of insulating material 26 between the support 24 and the bottom 27 of the casing.

As will be seen in Figure 2, the electromagnets 23 are arranged co-relatively to the steel plates 16 on the signal-carrying frames with which they cooperate.

The signal carrying frames are so disposed and mounted that the signals 14 normally drop by gravity into their lowermost position, that seen by the three plates 14 at the right in Figure 3, being moved to their uppermost position in alinement with the transparent plate 3, as shown by the plate 14 atthe left of Figure 3, when its frame is drawn downward by the attraction of its magnet, as seen in Figure 3 in full lines.

From each of the electro-magnets 23 there extends a wire 28, 29, 30 or 31 to a binding post 32, 33, 34, or 35, as seen in Figure 5.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the electric switch by which the signal plates are actuated. This may be attached to the dashboard or to the steering post, Or elsewhere as may be preferred. It comprises a casing 36 and a plurality, in this instance four, push but tons 37, 38, 39 and 40, one for each line of wire, 31, 30, 29, or 28, as seen clearly in Figure 5, depression of any one of which will actuate the desired signal plate. 41 is a bar secured within the casing 36, as seen in Figure 5, to which is connected a. wire 42 leading to a suitable source of electricity, while 43 is a similar contact bar to which the wire 22 leading to the bulb 20 is connected. Both of these bars 41 and 43 are mounted on light springs 44 supported in any suitable manner from the wall of the casing to allow them to readily adjust themselves to proper contact with the bars 45, 46, 47, and 48 when the latter are pressed downward with push buttons. Each push button is mounted on a spring 49, seen clearly in Figure '6, and acting to normally keep the push buttons in their elevated positions so that the bars carrying the push buttons will be normally out of contact with the contact bars 41 and 43. The springs 49 are supported upon brackets or the like 50 secured to a wall of the casing 36, as seen in Figure 6.

The binding posts 32 etc. are disposed in a compartment 51 formed by the partition 52 within the casing 36, as seen in Figures 5 and 6. The bars 45, 46, 47 and 48 are each hinged as at 53 on this partition, as seen best in' Figure 6.

In operation, when any one of the push buttons is depressed its bar comes in contact first with the contact bar 43, which is connected with the bulb 20 by the wire 22, so that the light is first shown, and further depression of the said push button brings its bar into contact with the contact bar 41 connected with the electro-magnet and the frame carrying the corresponding signal plate is attracted by its magnet, through the plate 16, and the said frameis drawn downward-beyond its pivot, with the result that the signalplate 14 carried thereby will be raised, as seen in Figure 3, into alinement with the transparent plate 3, and interposed between said plateoand the light 20. When the finger is removed from the push button, its spring 49 immediately throws the same upward and its bar out of contact with both the bars 41 and 43, the light goes out and the signal plate falls by gravity to its lowermost position.

It is sometimes desirable to lock each signal so as to give the public sufficient time to observe what the operator is going to do, and also to leave both hands free for manipulating the car. Such locking mechanism as herein shown comprises a locking lever 54 with a handle 55 and carrying fingers 56,

one for each push button and which engage sliding pins 57 provided with a spring 58 and slidingly mounted in a partition 59 in the casing 36, as seen in F i ure 6, and adapted to engage in an opening 60 in a depending member 61 carried by the push button bar, as seen in Figure 6, so that when the push button is depressed and the locking lever 54 pushed inward the pin engages in the opening- 60 and keeps the push button in its depressed position. This lever 54 with its fingers 56 is so constructed and arranged that it works the same no matter which of the push buttons is depressed.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

For instance, as seen in Figure 8, the push button may be provided with a notch 37, into which is designed to engage thesliding bolt 70, a spring 71 around said bolt serving to throw the bolt when not otherwise restrained, the bolt sliding through a hole in the upright 72. A lever 73 pressed outward by a spring 74 has a handle 7 5 as seen in said Figure 8. When the push button is depressed the corresponding sliding pin locks the button and keeps the signalin operative position till the lever 7 3 is actuated to withdraw the said pin.

What is claimed as new is In an auto signaling device, a casing, frames oscillatorily mounted therein on a common pivot to oscillate independently of each other, hangers pivotally supported from said frames, signal members pivoted at their lower ends in said hangers, guide members to hold said signal members in vertical position, said frames being nested one within the other, and magnetic counterbalance plates disposed laterally on the side bars of said frames, said plates being disposed upon alternate frames to balance the latter and magnets with which said plates cooperate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture.

PETER PETERSON. 

